Shouldn't happen to a dog Meaning in English
expression
SHU-dnt HAP-uhn tuh/ta/tih EY/uh DAWG
SHU-dnt HAP-uhn too EY DOG
Definition
Used to describe something very bad or unfair that someone experiences, suggesting that it is so terrible that not even a dog deserves it.
Usage & Nuances
Informal, slightly old-fashioned; used to emphasize sympathy for someone after great misfortune or injustice. Usually said about truly terrible experiences. Not literal—dogs are referenced to stress undeserved suffering.
Spanish: ni a un perro le debería pasar esoPortuguese (BR): nem a um cachorro isso deveria acontecerPortuguese (PT): nem a um cão isto devia acontecerChinese (Simplified): 连狗都不该遭受这样的事Chinese (Traditional): 連狗都不該發生這種事Hindi: यह किसी कुत्ते के साथ भी नहीं होना चाहिएArabic: لا يجب أن يحدث هذا حتى لكلبBengali: এটা কুকুরের সঙ্গেও ঘটতে উচিত নয়Russian: такое и с собакой не должно случитьсяJapanese: 犬にだって**起こるべきじゃない**ことだVietnamese: điều này thậm chí không nên xảy ra với một con chóKorean: 개에게도 이런 일은 일어나면 안 돼Turkish: bu köpeğin başına bile gelmemeliUrdu: یہ کسی کتے کے ساتھ بھی نہیں ہونا چاہیےIndonesian: bahkan anjing pun tidak pantas mengalami hal ini
Example Sentences
What happened to her shouldn't happen to a dog.
basic
That's so unfair—it shouldn't happen to a dog.
basic
Losing your home like that shouldn't happen to a dog.
basic
Honestly, what they went through shouldn't happen to a dog.
natural
After all that trouble, he still lost his job—it shouldn't happen to a dog.
natural
She was treated so badly—it really shouldn't happen to a dog.
natural